Mid-century? Oh, we’ve got more mid-century than you can shake a stick at
(…assuming that’s your idea of a good time)…
Hello!
Fun fact: Blogging is hard. It doesn’t look hard, but it is. Especially trying to do it on a regular basis. Hopefully this third try will be the charm. Let’s find out together, shall we?
For lack of a better idea, I decided to do the most pompous thing possible and interview myself– but with a fun Jetsons twist: I got ChatGPT to do it!
Here’s that:
Lowbrow art – also known as pop surrealism – emerged in the late 1970s as a rebellious counter-movement to the elitism of the fine art sphere. Rooted in the visual language of comic books, hot rods, cheesecake, and retro nostalgia, lowbrow has long celebrated the unconventional and the irreverent. It is a style that embrace the playful and the provocative, blending humor with social commentary. In recent years, this vibrant art style has experienced a revival, particularly with younger artists drawn to its bold aesthetics and subversive spirit. One such artist is Kyle “MoonMonkey” Pendergraft, a millennial who brings a fresh, modern twist to mid-century pop art. With a unique blend of madcap charm, deep references, and musical inspiration, MoonMonkey is reimagining the past for a new generation…
Background
Interview-o-Matic: Let me start with the obvious question– How did you find your way into mid-century pop culture?
MoonMonkey: As great as it is to have 40,000 streaming sites, I wouldn’t be here today with the random grab-bag that was cable TV. I can’t imagine life without Nick at Nite and I feel like my kid is sorely missing out because there isn’t anything like that today. Older content in general was cheaper so you had things like Cartoon Network that showed almost entirely Hanna-Barbera cartoons. I sat glued to my TV every time USA Network did a Planet of the Apes-a-thon. Even super popular things like Batman were informed by an earlier aesthetic. Batman: The Animated Series. I remember watching Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, which is like a fever dream 1950s. The more I saw, the more I wanted to see. Underneath all of that, I was an “oopsie” so my family anchored me to another time. I was never really “of the moment.”
The MoonMonkey Difference
Interview-o-Matic: It’s amazing how early exposure to things can set a certain path in motion. You said you feel like you were never “of the moment.” You literally couldn’t be of the moment with the things you were interested in. How does that… disconnect, so to say, inform your approach?
MoonMonkey: I think more than anything, it keeps me from being slavish about the subject matter. I veer towards… I guess you’d say “subversive” anyway – which I attribute to Mad Magazine, Saturday Night Live, and The Simpsons – but I don’t have a hang-up of “oh, everything was perfect in the past.” No, it was pretty far from perfect. We’re better off today in pretty much every way, I’d say, except that our pop culture is boring. But I think that’s a response to the fact that things are better. The culture reflects the society and if the culture is safe and even-keel and really kind of boring… that’s not saying anything “bad” about the society that produces it. I think the broad lowbrow aesthetic fits directly with certain millennial sensibilities. It feels like a very comfortable fit, at least.
All About Style
Interview-o-Matic: Embracing irreverence and blending it with mid-century pop culture and aesthetics definitely gives your work a unique edge. With that in mind, could you share more about the specific subjects or themes you focus on? What draws you to these concepts?
MoonMonkey: By and large, the usual stuff you see from other artists in the same niche like Shag or Scooter or Derek Yaniger. I like doing things with people and women really just because they’re a challenge. A lot of things I do sort of suggest themselves to me from music I hear. I tell people I do “sex, satire, and superheroes.” I haven’t done any art that centers explicitly around a superhero, but I pick up a lot of elements like giant robots and the DC Comics’ go-go checks from the mid-’60s and over-the-top hideouts. I’ve always liked the idea that superheroes have time to not only come up with these iconic costumes, but pour a lot of attention into interior design.
Future Projects
Interview-o-Matic: Are there any upcoming projects or new directions you’re excited about that you’d like to share?
MoonMonkey: I usually have several things in development at once. I guess the most involved thing I’m working on right now is an idea I’ve had for a while about the nightclub from the AIP beach party movies, Cappy’s. I want to put as many surf bands – old and new – up on the stage with Harvey Lembeck and Morey Amsterdam and Annette Funicello in the audience, kind of like Neal Adams’ cover for Superman vs. Mohammed Ali.
Interview-o-Matic: That sounds like a really vibrant and fun project! Combining real-life surf bands with those classic beach party movies should be a visual treat. Is there anything else you’re working on or any other ideas we should keep an eye out for?
MoonMonkey: Yeah, so one thing I’m experimenting with is these very stylized crime and spy pieces, inspired by Darwyn Cooke’s Parker books. Darwyne Cook is a huge influence on everything I do. The goal is to capture a really evocative moment that people can look at and imagine their own scene from a dream caper movie. Sort of Shag meets Darwyn Cooke.
Interview-o-Matic: That sounds like a fantastic blend of styles! Putting Shag’s retro flair together with Cooke’s sharp, minimalist approach should result in some really intriguing pieces. And it sounds like fun for viewers to come up with their own storylines from the art. Thank you so much for sharing your history and inspirations and upcoming projects with us. It’s been great to get a glimpse into the “world according to MoonMonkey.” Before we wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share? Any final thoughts?
Final Thoughts
MoonMonkey: Just disconnected thoughts? Nothing ever really ends. The past is prologue. Adam West is Batman.
Interview-o-Matic: Ahahaha. Oh, mercy. Thank you for joining us!
MoonMonkey: Thank you for not asking me if I knew the location of John Connor.